28 ENGLISH BOTANY. 



stricted part of the calyx-tube in the form of a slightly 2-lobed 

 cushion or disk (stylopod) ; placentae in the axis ; ovules 1 in each 

 cell. Capsule obovate or oblanceolate-ovoid, covered with hairs 

 hooked backwards at the point, 2-celled, 2-seeded, and at length 

 2-valved, or by abortion 1-celled and 1-seeded. 



Herbs with opposite ovate finely toothed leaves, and white or 

 flesh-coloured flowers in naked terminal racemes, with the pedicel 

 reflexed in fruit. 



This I'emis of plants is named after the famous enchantress of ancient mythology, 

 Circe, who bewitched the companions of Ulysses. The fruit being covered with hooked 

 priokles, lays hold of the clothes of passers-by, as it is fabled dice did with her 

 enchantments. 



SPECIES I.— CIRC 2E A LUTETIAN A. Linn. 

 Plate DXI. 



Stem generally pubescent, with glandular hairs. Leaves dim 

 above, stalked, ovate, rounded or truncate or sub-cordate at the 

 base, acute or acuminate at the apex, repand-denticulate or faintly 

 denticulate-serrate. Raceme mostly without bracts at the base of 

 the pedicels. Disk projecting beyond the orifice of the calyx-tube. 

 Petals inversely-semicircular-dcltoid, 2-cleft. Fruit obovate-ovoid, 

 obtuse, usually 2-celled and 2-seeded, clothed with reilexed stiff 

 bristly hooked hairs. 



In damp shady woods, especially among loose stones. Rather 

 common, and generally distributed; but becoming rare towards 

 the North of Scotland, though it has been reported from Caith- 

 ness. 



England, Scotland, Ireland. Perennial. Summer 

 and Autumn. 



Root stock creeping. Stem fragile erect, or decumbent at the 

 base, with the nodes swollen, 1 to 2 feet high, slender, round, 

 branched or simple. Petioles l to 2 inches long, laminae H to 3 

 inches, sprinkled with minute transparent dots when held up 

 to the light. Racemes terminating the stem and branches, lax, 

 elongating in fruit. Pedicels about as Long as the calyx, spreading 

 in flower, reflexed in fruit, Flowers ,'„ inch across. Calyx with 

 the part of the tube that adheres to the ovary thickly clothed with 

 deiiexed hairs booked downwards at the end ; limb divided down 

 to the tube, reddish, speckled. Petals white or flesh-colour, broader 

 than long, deeply divided into 2 roundish lobes. Fruit | inch long, 

 densely clothed with hooked white bristles. Plant deep dull-green, 

 the leaves paler and shining beneath, the stein generally tinged 



